Is There a Future For
Juniper House TMO?The vote to remain a TMO takes place next moth. If the vote does fail, and there is no great hope that it
won't, the Residents' Association
which would replace Juniper TMC would not be any less powerful, and
might even have more natural allies in the borough than before, and
therefore a louder voice. But unless residents were prepared to clear
away the dead thinking which has plagued Juniper for over a decade the
result would be more decline and a weaker community. If
indeed the oldest housing co-op in Southwark is to fold, it is a great
shame, and the blame lies not with a indifferent and lazy residents, as
some will claim, but with the centralisation of power in a few hands
and the ability that the management-led TMO model gives to that
minority to take random, frivolous decisions while not allowing them
time to consider the consequences.
It is a reversion to a confrontational 'parliamentary' system - but on a
totally inappropriate, microscopic scale, and without the crucial
benefit of the committe structure which underpins the Westminster
legislative model.
The result is a defensive management which is alienated from the
residents, and hopelessly vulnerable to hasty, expensive,
counter-productive decisions. As we have seen over the past five years. It seems unlikely that Juniper,with its current state of
apathy, will vote to retain TMO status when the time comes. In spite of
the voting system having recently been adjusted, making the task easier,
in theory. The tiny handful of people now
forming a rump management are, unfortunately, going to place themselves
under even more pressure which they are neither qualified or trained to
bear. So even if the vote goes in favour, if the same people cling on to
their posts, and the level of interest does not increase significantly,
the likelihood of a viable, accountable administration for Juniper
House are as slim as they are now.
1/8/08 |